Bless You

by   March 31, 2020 with No Comments

By Ann Farabee

We say it in daily conversation. We say it in the church. We say it to those grieving or suffering.

We often say it lightly, to let someone know we see that they are busy busy busy — or perhaps overwhelmed with something.

The most popular ‘bless you’ may be when someone sneezes. This began when it was believed that as you sneeze, your heart stops — and that the ‘bless you’ could set your heart back to go.

We say it often — but maybe not often enough.

In Numbers 6:22-26, the Lord told Moses to tell Aaron and his sons that they should bless the children of Israel with these words:

The Lord bless you.

This is asking God to show favor.

And keep you.

This is asking God to give protection.

The Lord make his face shine upon you.

This is asking God to be pleased.

And be gracious to you.

This is asking God to be compassionate and show mercy.

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you.

This is asking God to give his approval.

And give you peace.

This is asking God to bring quiet, calm and serenity.

Bless you.

The Hebrew for ‘bless you’ is on bended knee.

It is a prayer.

It is a prayer worth praying.

Pray it for someone you love — now.

Pray it for someone who needs encouragement — now.

Pray it for yourself — now.

Pray it for our country — now.

Put it to use.

God desires to bless us.

You never know — The ‘bless you’ may change a heart that has stopped — and set it back to go!

Bless you!

Prayers Answered

by   March 30, 2020 with No Comments

By David Freeze

China Grove First Baptist Church began the process of looking for a new pastor in November 2018 and entered into a month of prayer. The conclusion of that month began a journey that nobody saw coming and can only be explained by the direct involvement of an incredible God.  

The prayer ministry at First Baptist is available to everyone, with requests often coming through their website, sidewalk prayer box or their Facebook page. A new journey began when an indigenous pastor and missionary in Tanzania simply asked, “Please pray for my ministry.” Pastor Emmanuel simply said, “We need Bibles. Please pray that God will send us some Bibles.”  

When Chad Lewis, a China Grove First Baptist Church member, asked the pastor how he found the church in China Grove, North Carolina, the answer was that “he was praying one night, asking God to lead him to people who would partner with him in prayer.”

“As we began to pray, we also began to research how to send Bibles to Tanzania,” Lewis said. “The Baptist State Convention, the Bible Society and other African missionaries all said that costs for shipping and risk for theft were both too high.”

Even though others were saying “don’t do it,” church members continued to pray and moved forward. After finding several options on Amazon for purchasing Swahili Bibles, Lewis said, “We picked a random Amazon vendor and inquired about bulk pricing. This was no random choice. God was at work in the smallest of details.”

The vendor selected, World Books and Records, wanted to help — but not through Amazon. The goal was to send 50 Bibles, with a stretch goal of 100, dreading the expected high shipping cost. 

World Books responded with, “Yes, we can we accommodate that quantity and we can ship it for free.”  

World Books owner Nderitu Kanyogoro shared how he grew up in Kenya and now has a distribution warehouse close enough to Tanzania for shipping Bibles, saying that when he committed himself to Christ he didn’t have a Bible and could not afford one.

“The student who witnessed to me gave me his only Bible as he came from a very poor family as well,” Nderitu said “I felt the love and the pain of receiving the word of God from my brother. Three weeks later, I witnessed to another student who received Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

“He too had no Bible and then it was my turn to give up mine. I can’t start to explain the joy I felt but even more so, the pain of not having what had become my sword and my shield.”

Nderitu continued, saying his mother visited him at a boarding school and gave him the equivalent of about $2 for pocket money.

“The following weekend, I walked a whole 40 miles to the nearest bookstore to buy a Bible, never mind that I had no more money, he said. “My mom had told me that the 20 shillings would be my bus fare to go back home when the school closed. After school closed, I had no bus fare, but I had myself a Bible. God provided me strength and grace to walk a whole 50 miles back home. I was tired but I had a wonderful time to converse with him.”

After moving to the U.S. as an adult and becoming a successful scientist, Nderitu asked only for the opportunity to help provide God’s word to more people. World Books and Records was born.

“That is why I spend my resources. I have donated to many, and the vast majority do not even know about,” Nderitu said. “It means so much to me to know that a Bible is going to someone who couldn’t possibly afford one, and for that one person, it is nothing short of a miracle.”

With something amazing in the works, China Grove First Baptist Church agreed to collect money during the month of December and watch God work. The church was able to purchase 246 Bibles instead of the original 50.

“God was certainly up to something big,” Lewis said. “Nderitu was so moved that he personally contributed 54 more Bibles so that 300 shipped.” 

Pastor Emmanuel was beyond ecstatic. With most villagers unable to afford a Bible, his church and the village came together for an entire day of worship and celebration to thank God for answering their prayers. Many now had their very own copy of God’s word.  

World Books and China Grove First Baptist Church continued to get updates from Pastor Emmanuel on how the Bibles were making a difference. 

China Grove First Baptist Church continued to pray. Church members have been involved with mission work in Vermont and New Hampshire for over seven years. One of those partner churches, Crossroads Community Church, joined in as did non-church members in the community. 

From the time the first Bible was shipped to Tanzania, a little over a year ago, there have been over 2,000 people in the Tanzanian villages who now have a personal relationship with Christ. Many of those are still without a Bible, but recently, China Grove First Baptist Church sent more than 250 additional Bibles. 

For more information on the Bible program or to send your prayer request, contact China Grove First Baptist at 704-857-5415 or at pray@chinagrovefbc.com  

Neighbors

by   March 28, 2020 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

            We tend to be behind the curve on movies. It has been a long time since we went to the movie theater. We wait for them to come out on DVD or our streaming service. Current movies to us are actually ones that have been out for a while.

            Last week we watched Tom Hanks in, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” Neither of us grew up watching “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood.” We were both aware of the show and have seen bits and pieces but it wasn’t one we watched. We both watched “Captain Kangaroo.” I am not sure that these two shows would work with today’s shortened-attention-span kids.

            Naturally, we like to watch Tom Hanks in about anything he does. He has the powerful ability to disappear into the character he is playing. Since neither of us watched Mr. Rogers, we weren’t busy trying to comparing the two of them. We just enjoyed the movie.

            The movie is really about a journalist who is assigned the task of writing a story about Mr. Rogers. The journalist asks Mr. Rogers at one point why he is attracted to broken people. Mr. Rogers smiles and tells him that he isn’t broken. He then reminds him of several very critical things that are building blocks to help this character turn around.

            As I watched the movie, I couldn’t help but think that we all need a Mr. Rogers in our corner. We all need to be reminded that we are loved and appreciated. Sometimes the circumstances of life can blind us with pain, suffering, and loss. I also think that worry and anxiety can keep us from seeing the world and those around us.

            We are all destined to walk through difficult things in life. We have a choice. We can walk through them alone or we can lean on friends and loved ones to help us see more clearly who we are and how much we mean to those around us.

            In the Christmas classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” George Baily doesn’t understand the impact he’s had on the world around him until the angel shows him. Each of us is broken in some way, and we need friends or an angel to help us see ourselves and our little corner of the world from a fresh perspective.

            We need our friends and our family when our minds feel overwhelmed by all that is going on in the world around us. This Corona virus has shaken all of our worlds. So I need you and you need me.

            Maybe the best thing we can all do is watch a little less news and spend a little more time with each other…as long as we stay at least 6 feet apart. We can watch a movie, play a game, or maybe go for a walk. We need to engage with each other, help each other to laugh, encourage one another, and help to lift this heavy burden we are all carrying.

            We need family. We need friends. We also need to check on our neighbors. In our country we have seen hurricanes, tornadoes, snowstorms, ice storms, fires, earthquakes and many other tragedies…and what happens? We come together for each other. It doesn’t matter who we are, we are there for each other.

            I saw in one of the memorials for Kenny Rogers that he was a part of the song, “We are the World.” We need to come together like that again. We may come from different backgrounds, but we are all brothers, sisters, friends, and neighbors in this world. In moments like this we have learned how to put down our differences and come together as one.

            I strongly believe that everything the enemy intended for evil through the Corona virus, God can turn into something good. We will be there for our neighbors, friends, and family. We will come together in unity to discover the victory and overcome this evil with good. I believe that love triumphs over all sorts of evil.

            I want to encourage you to check on your family, friends, and neighbors. Help in any way that you are able. We are all able to pray, so lift us those who are suffering whether it is from health or economic issues. We serve a God who is more than able to meet our needs. I need you to make it through these troubled times, and somehow I believe that you need me, too. If we can act like good neighbors to each other we will overcome and come out better on the other side.  

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

Blooms From the Old

by   March 27, 2020 with No Comments

(for Gail who asked how we are)

By Roger Barbee

Several flowering plants form new blooms from the dead wood of a previous season’s cycle. Next to our screened-in porch is one such plant—a dwarf, lime hydrangea which we planted two years ago. Since I have yet to move my stationary bike out to the elements and continue to ride in the dry of the porch, I have been watching this shrub for several weeks and it has, like all plants, taught me a lesson.

Although the browned and dead flowers from last summer are not attractive, Mary Ann prefers to leave them attached to the stems even though they could be snipped off. Thus, as I have been riding each morning, I sort of wished that she had removed the unsightly, spent blooms. However, I now understand that her decision has helped me see the cycle of nature.

The lime hydrangea does what it is designed to do. It grows by feeding from the past cycles of its life. As I look each morning at the brown and dead blooms, I also can see small, green leaves emerging on the stems that hold those dead blooms. Soon those small green leaves will be in full splendor and new, deliciously lime colored blooms will emerge. The old will be gone, and the new celebrated. Soon.

Living under self-quarantine because of the COVID-19 virus, I think of the lime hydrangea and it’s gaining the new from the old. So often in our belief that we, mere humans, are in control because of our 401k’s, our superhighways with fast cars, our 10,000 square foot houses, and more, we lose our way. We lose sight of how frail we really are- think of the TB sanitariums of the 1930’s, and other examples besides this virus which is just beginning for us.

Yet if we accept the fact that we need to come together and “be our brother’s keeper”, we will continue.  Like the simple plant that makes new by using all its parts and history, we need to band, to do what is best for the tribe, not any individual. This is not the time to think individually, but the time to think together. And when we think of the tribe, we each will give up some things or many things. So be it. To bloom again. Gloriously.

Bike Rental

by   March 23, 2020 with No Comments

By David Freeze

I had been curious for the last two nights about a bunch of tall palm trees with Christmas lights wrapped around them.

After dark last night (Friday) and in the drizzling rain, I went for a closer look today (Saturday).

Apparently a local sleep doctor has his office and house together, and decorated the biggest trees in his yard. I walked up and tried to take a few good pictures and a woman came out to say, “How can I help you?” I told her I was admiring the trees and lights. She responded, “Oh, no problem, please enjoy.”

Hawaii seems full of this attitude. So friendly and happy! I am finishing this day while having a blast. A lot of good things fell into place today and I will recap them.

Back from a much-better-than-yesterday early run, I saw another runner coming in and he wanted to know the time. I told him and he said, “I’ve got to hurry to meet the bus.” I did also and told him so. About 45 minutes later, after packing and leaving Arnott’s Lodging and Adventure, I was at the bus stop and my new friend was already inside when it stopped.

These are big city buses with cool bike racks on the front. After a little coaching, I learned how to mount mine and got on the bus. My fare was $2 to take me, two big bags and the bicycle to the other side of the island, probably about 85 miles on the route we took. If I lived on the Big Island, I wouldn’t use a vehicle much. The bus is so convenient and amazingly cheap.

Once loaded, I talked with Ben, the runner from this morning. He’s into martial arts and is an actor, but he’s spending multiple weeks in Hawaii to finish a book. We parted ways at the bus exchange, promising to keep in touch.

Next came the bus ride over some of the same area that I cycled and then the “Saddle Road” back to Kona. I had been told not to ride it because of tight turns, little shoulders on occasion and high traffic. Crossing the center of the island, I was amazed at all the higher altitude grasslands and then more lava fields. Beautiful but barren, it was the shortest way to Kona and I’m glad we saw it by bus. That bus driver used to drive a truck in Charlotte.

First and most important when back to Kona was to return my rented bike to Bike Works. The fee came out $10 cheaper than I expected because I kept it for an extra two days, meaning the per day rate was lowered. My pedals and I are headed home, but I hope to never see that seat again.

The bike did a great job and I didn’t have to pay the $2,800 credit card bill for not returning the bike.

By this time, the rain was falling pretty well, but I had some shopping to do: a few gifts for home and some food for the evening.

While shopping in the ABC store for both things, I didn’t see any liquor. I think its a convenience store chain that doesn’t sell hard alcohol. There are at least three of these stores within about a half-mile walk in downtown Kona. They are packed every time I go in.

Next came the farmers market where I bought the smallest bananas and some fresh pineapple, plenty of each for $4. I wanted one of those miniature teak surfboards but passed this time.

With all this done, I had a mile more to walk to my home for the evening, Kona Tiki Hotel. I am directly on the ocean, listening to the waves crash against a rock wall about 30 feet from the patio area of my room. This is so cool! I even saw a humpback whale surface a couple of times as he or she passed by, remembering from Captain Dan’s Whale Watch that humpbacks like to cruise close in.

Small boats keep passing by, too, and it could rain again soon.

I will have one more update from Sunday after my last morning here.

David Freeze is a Salisbury Post contributor who is biking in his 50th state, Hawaii.

The Well

by   March 22, 2020 with No Comments

By Ann Farabee

Most Jews avoided traveling through Samaria – but not Jesus.

‏He NEEDED to go through Samaria. For He had a GOD work to do. There was a heart that needed to be worked on.

‏It was around lunchtime. He had been walking on foot. It was probably hot. He was probably weary.

‏He sat down on the well made of stones. Cold, hard stones. He sat to rest a minute – and to rescue a life.

‏The woman came to draw water. The timing of her arrival was no accident. That was the time of day those with poor reputations showed up – to avoid the crowd. This was part of her daily work, providing water to meet the needs of her family.

‏Was she expecting to meet Jesus?
‏No.
‏Was Jesus expecting to meet her?
‏Yes.

‏The stage had been set. Jesus had sent his disciples to the store to get meat.
‏I suppose it was their ‘Food Lion’ of that day.

‏Yes, Jesus, the man who usually talked to the multitudes, had stopped by the well to talk to the one.

‏He looked to her and said, “Give me to drink.” It was not a command, but a pathway to conversation with her. Those passing through town often had requests for water, but never to the Samaritans, for they had no dealings with them.

‏At this point, I imagine her looking around like, “Who?Me? This man knows I am a Samaritan – part of the hated mixed race and of low social position. Is he talking to me?”

‏Somehow, I think she knew right then that this was not an ordinary stranger – and this would not be an ordinary day at the well.

‏‘Give me to drink’ had been his words.
‏Four words that would lead to more words.

‏The door had been opened. Communication was coming as Jesus said, “If you only knew the gift of God, and who’s talking to you, you would have asked for living water.”

‏Can you almost envision the inquisitive look on her face? What was he talking about? That communication made no sense. She didn’t have anything to draw with. The water was deep. Jacob gave them the well and they all drank from it – his children and his cattle. This man couldn’t offer her more than that.

‏She did not understand the ‘what’ of his words, nor the ‘why’ of his words, but she understood enough to desire to stay and hear more. For she had never had a conversation like this. She had mostly been avoided.

‏He then told her that with the water she had, she would get thirsty again, but with His water, she would never thirst again, because it was living water, and would spring up into everlasting life.

‏Her response was awesome, “GIVE ME THIS WATER!” Apparently, she foresaw never being thirsty, not having to come to the well twice a day again, and an easier life. Jesus had opened up the door – and she was going for it!

‏She was probably stopped dead in her tracks at his next words, as he began to point out that He knew her already. He knew sins of her past. He knew she had been married five times. He knew she was living with someone now that was not her husband.

‏As they talked, the words of Jesus were beginning to change her heart. For He was revealing Himself to her – not all at once, but slowly, giving her time to comprehend.

‏Something she barely understood was changing her perspective in life to God’s perspective.

‏This woman, an outcast who knew little about God, said, “I know the Messiah is coming, which is called Christ.” Somehow, I think she said it softly, almost as if it were a question, for she finally knew that someone was about to give her hope and a future.

‏Perhaps some of the greatest words ever spoken to humanity were not spoken to a king, but to this sinful woman, “I that speak unto thee am he.”

‏She was talking to Christ. Christ was talking to her.

‏The disciples came back.

‏So, she knew it was time for her to leave and head back to the city.

‏But guess what she did? When she left – she left behind her water pot.

‏Yes, her water pot. The very reason she had come.

‏Don’t you think that was because she now had living water?

‏What did she do when she got back to the city? She witnessed to others, as she said, “Come see a man. Is not this the Christ?”

‏YES would be my response. It is the Christ.

‏For I met Jesus Christ at the well, too.

‏I like to call it my well of salvation.
‏With joy we will draw water from the wells of salvation. Isaiah 12:3

‏The well of living water is all ours. We just have to tap into it.

Ann is a speaker and teacher. Contact her at annfarabee@gmail.com or annfarabee.com

What Virus?

by   March 21, 2020 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

            You would have to be living under a rock and totally disconnected from all media not to know about the Corona virus. Initially the news changed daily. Now the news is changing hourly, and by the time you read this it will be changing by the minute.

            I never imagined that we would be dealing with such a bad situation. I thought it would be something like all the previous viruses that have spread around the world. The news media would talk lots about it, but that it would not affect my daily life. It would be just another virus for the record books.

            It is very sobering to see the world-wide impact of this virus. We have some incredibly intelligent people in the medical field; you would think that something would be developed to reduce the impact of this virus. Yet medical science’s best advice at this point is to stay away from each other. I am a very social person; this is difficult for me.

            I normally go to the grocery store on Tuesday and Sunday. For various reasons, I decided to go to the store on Monday afternoon. It was busy, but I was pleasantly surprised by how polite people were being. Everybody was pleasant and talking to one another, much more than usual. I saw the manager and asked if he was having fun. He laughed.

            I was also encouraged to see that there were plenty of groceries on the shelves. Yeah, stock was lower than usual, but there was plenty for everybody. Well, the toilet paper aisle was empty, but that isn’t news. I took a picture and sent it to a few folks for some laughs. I have seen the news where they are showing long lines, much like in the south when they mention the word snow or a hurricane coming our way.

            If you are feeling stressed, worried, and concerned…you are totally normal. I try not to live with fear, but those feelings have crept in. Ask God to give you His supernatural peace. Believe me, I have asked numerous times in the last couple of days and He has been faithful to give me the peace I need.

            I believe an important thing to help quiet our spirits is to be prepared. Think of it like the first snowflakes have started to fall or the first band of rain has reached the shore. There is still time to prepare for the storm ahead. I believe Jesus would tell each one of us, “We are going to make it through the storm.” It is prudent to get some supplies in so we are ready for the worst part of the storm.

            I also believe it’s important to be wise. It seems the best solution for the moment is washing our hands and keeping our distance from each other. This does not mean that we disconnect. I have been in contact with my pastor and my family and friends. We need each other. We need to laugh. We need to encourage each other. We need to help pull each other out of all the media negativity and remind each other that the Lord our God is good and that He will not leave us or forsake us…even if we happen to get the Corona virus.

            The hardest thing we have to do is to live in faith. Doubt and fear are pounding on my door. I’m sending Jesus to answer the door for me. There is no fear in Jesus. But the Corona virus is going to test our faith. The result will be that our faith will grow stronger. God wants us to draw closer to Him. God’s desire is to always be closer to His children. We will persevere. We will overcome. We will emerge victorious.

            We live in the world and sometimes the germs of this world will get on us. If you find yourself getting sick, don’t lose faith. God will walk with you through the storm. We are not alone. God is with us. God loves us. He will comfort and heal us. The name of Jesus is superior to the Corona virus and any other thing you are up against.

            I want to encourage you to stir up your faith and pray. Prayer is a powerful weapon against anything that comes against us. Banish doubt and fear from your house and grab a hold of the life preserver of hope called faith. We are going to make it through this storm. We are going to emerge victorious. Our God is with us, who or what can stand against our God?

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

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